"Regardless, your existence will influence Sakura's daily decisions."
"So..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi trailed off, slowly removing his Hokage robe, revealing a black combat outfit underneath. He was clearly preparing to join Tsunade in subduing the individual before them.
"So what?"
"I thought you were different from the others, old man."
"Turns out you're just as ordinary as the rest."
Inner Sakura's manic expression suddenly faded, replaced by a calm demeanor that faintly resembled Sakura's true self.
"What do you mean by that?"
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes at the figure before him, his expression unchanged.
"It's like how beasts on the ground can never understand the birds in the sky."
"A frog at the bottom of a well sees only a fraction of the world yet believes that's all there is."
Inner Sakura's words made Tsunade furrow her brows.
"Arrogant. Comparing yourself to a bird in the sky, as if you grasp the entire world's truths."
But Hiruzen countered, "So you think our perspective is limited?"
Having spent seven years with Sakura, he naturally understood her well.
At just eight years old, she had manipulated the shinobi world like a chessboard, using the Land of Fire's resources to orchestrate events. Even the current war was something she had foreseen long ago.
Since Inner Sakura was a part of Sakura, there were bound to be similarities between them.
Now, he realized their perspectives were eerily alike.
She had once faced Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame and deliberately let them go. With Inner Sakura's abilities, she could have easily stalled them until Tsunade and Jiraiya arrived as reinforcements.
But she hadn't.
Because she knew Itachi was a so-called spy.
Yet now, in Hiruzen's eyes, the credibility of this "spy" from Konoha had dropped to a dangerously low level.
"An old man is still an old man. I guess age really does bring wisdom."
Inner Sakura gave Hiruzen an approving glance.
"So, what is your goal?"
Hiruzen ignored her mocking tone and asked the question that truly mattered.
"Goal?"
Inner Sakura's lips curled into an enigmatic smile, making Tsunade's frown deepen.
Here it comes again…
That feeling…
A chill ran down her spine, like she was standing before a pure madman.
"Probably because..."
"I feel like it."
Feel like it?
What kind of answer was that?
Hiruzen fell silent.
But both Tsunade and the seventy-year-old Hokage understood.
It was the mindset of a pure villain.
Someone who could kill without reason.
Simply because they wanted to.
That was their reason.
Like the demons in old legends, toying with people regardless of status—merely for their own amusement.
It was an extremely dangerous way of thinking. Or perhaps, the mindset of a true madman.
"Is it because of the overwhelming power of Yin Release?"
Hiruzen couldn't help but sigh.
Chakra was truly mysterious—its potential seemed limitless.
Even creating a lifeform entirely from Yin Release alone…
His thoughts wandered.
If paired with an equally strong Yang Release to create a physical body, could this being be placed inside?
With the balance of Yin and Yang, would her temperament soften? Would she cease being so violent?
The thought startled him.
Yang Release, Yin Release.
What exactly were they?
And what name should be given to a lifeform created entirely from Yin and Yang chakra?
But in the next moment, he had his answer.
Tailed Beasts.
Immortal creatures born purely from chakra.
For a brief instant, Hiruzen felt as though he had glimpsed the truth behind the Tailed Beasts.
But if his speculation was correct, then who had the power to create them?
His clouded eyes flickered with countless thoughts.
Throughout the thousand-year history, one figure had remained constant.
The Sage of Six Paths.
Could it be that his existence was more than just legend?
Meanwhile, Tsunade and Inner Sakura clashed once more.
Having learned from her previous defeat, Tsunade was now fully alert.
Though Inner Sakura's raw strength was slightly weaker due to her unique constitution, her precision—pinpointing openings and countering perfectly—made Tsunade feel like she wasn't fighting a human opponent.
It felt more like she was fighting someone with the Sharingan.
---
Inside the Inner World
The police officer Sakura fired three precise shots from her water gun, hitting the driver Sakura squarely in the chest.
The latter gasped in shock.
She first set down the skyscraper she had been holding, then clutched her chest as though in agony, her face contorting in exaggerated pain.
Staggering back several steps, she pointed a trembling finger at the stern-faced police officer Sakura.
"I can't believe you actually shot me~~~"
At that moment, under the stunned gazes of Sakura and Sasuke, the world suddenly dimmed.
A single beam of light shone from above, illuminating police officer Sakura. Meanwhile, the surrounding shops began playing perfectly timed dramatic background music.
Holstering her water gun, she tilted her hat low and spoke in a deep, regretful tone:
"Sorry, I'm a cop."
Sakura nearly exploded from secondhand embarrassment!
This was way too cringe!
So mortifying!
Why did the lights suddenly go out?!
And what was with that overly dramatic delivery?!
Are you guys performing a stage play or something?!
And you—yes, you! The guy operating the spotlight on the roof! Stop hiding!
I can totally see you! Get down here, dammit!
And how the hell did all these shops manage to synchronize their music so perfectly?!
Meanwhile, Sasuke stood beside her, his expression (subtly amused), as if he were trying not to laugh.
But the situation didn't end there.
As police officer Sakura delivered her dramatic one-liner, "I'm a cop," the surrounding pedestrian Sakuras erupted into applause.
"Our protector!"
"So cool!"
"The guardian of the people!"
"I love you!"
"Like mice love rice!"
Tears streamed down their faces—no exaggeration, they were literally crying.
Those who couldn't produce real tears even pulled out eye drops to fake it! <3
The moment police officer Sakura's performance ended, the sky brightened again, returning to normal.
Sakura was too exhausted to even (rant) anymore.
Is there some kind of light switch controlling day and night in this place?
Sasuke, lips pressed tightly together, looked like he was barely holding back laughter.
Which only made Sakura even more furious.
"Wahhh, so touching!"
"Aren't you moved?"
The part-time worker Sakura—the same one who had served them milk tea earlier—suddenly appeared beside them, crouching and dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief.
She looked at them expectantly.
"No. Not at all."
Sakura deadpanned, her expression lifeless.
A heavy silence fell over the world.
Even the background music from the shops cut off abruptly.
Sakura's words seemed to have triggered something.
All the Sakuras in the vicinity turned their heads in eerie unison to stare at her and Sasuke.
Including the part-time worker Sakura right beside them.
--
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